Lamp-operating mechanism for automobiles



Jan. 1

1,479,435 A. M. PURCHIO LAMP OPERATING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILES FiledApril 5, 1922 .fliiorneys Patented Jan. 1, 1924?.

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AMIGO MICHAEL PURCHIO, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

LAMP-OPERATING- MEGHANISM FOB AUTOMOBILES. 7

Application filed April 3,

Z '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AMIGO MICHAEL PUR- oHro, a citizen of'the UnitedStates, residin in Buffalo, in the county of Erieand State of New York,have invented new and useful Improvements in Lamp-Operating Mechanismfor Automobiles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a lamp operating mechanism for automobiles inwhich the lamps supporting brackets are operatively connected with thesteering gear or mechanism of the automobile so that when turning theautomobile either toward the right or the left of a straightcourse, thelamps will be correspondingly turned and 'thus properly illuminatetheroadway ahead of the automobile in accordance with the course whichis'taken;

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an operatingmechanism of this character which permits of uncoupling the lampsupporting mechanism with the steerin mechanism during the day time whenthe lamps are not required and thusavoid unnecessary wear upon thesupports of the lamps.

Another object of this invention is to provide means for locking thecoupling between the steering mechanism and the lamp op-' eratingmechanism when these parts 5 are coupled and. in an operative positionand also to permit of disconnectingthe steering mechanism from the lampmechanism when desired.

A further object is to provide simple and efiicient means for lockingthe lamp mechanism in position so that the same can not'be turned-duringthe day time and also prevent operation of thesteering mechanism of thecarwhen the last-mentioned mechanism is coupled with the lamps, therebypreventing normal operationof' the car and guarding against theft of thesame.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of an automobile equippedwith my improved lamp operating mechanism. Figure 2 1s a verticaltransverse sectlon of the means-for coupling the steering mechanism withthe lamp 'mechanism and also locking the coupling mechanism either inits operative or inoperative position, this section 1922. Serial No.548,996.

being taken on line 22, Fig. 3. Figure 3 is a fragmentary verticalsection. taken on line 33, Fig. 2. Figure 1 is a'horizontal' section,taken on line M, Fig. 2. Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical section,taken on line 55, Fig. 1. Figure-6 is a vertical section, taken on line66, Fig. 5. 1

. Similar characters of reference refer to like partsthroughout theseveral views.

In its general organization the automobile which is shown in thedrawings for illustratmanner, and steering knuckles forming part of thesteering mechanism of the car and having upright hubs 14: which arepivoted vertically on opposite ends of the front'axle 13 and areprovided with outwardly projecting axle arms 15 upon which the steeringwheels are journaled, a rearwardly' projecting'steering arm 16 arrangedon one of-the hubs 1 1 and connected by means of a rod 17 with thesteering wheel, near. the drivers seat, and twoshifting arms 18, 18,projecting rearwardly fromthe hubs '14 and connected by transverse rods19, so as to cause the steering knuckles to turn in unison,

Arranged above the front-parts of the side bars are two lamps orheadlights 20 of any suitable construction, each of -which is mountedonthe upper part-of the bracket 21, the lower part of which is providedwith a downwardly projecting vertical spindle 22 which is ournaled in abearing mounted on.

the upper part of the adjacent'frame bar 10,, each of these bearings inits'preferred form consisting of upper-and lower homes 23 are rangedon'the upper and lowerparts of a the cones 23' of the frame, bracket andthe conesof'the lamp bracket, asshown in Figs. 5 and 6.

By this means each of the brackets is capable of turning about avertical axis on locking pin.

the main frame and thereby direct the light of the lamp when the same.is lighted in different angular directions forwardly of the car.

For the purpose of causing both of these lamps to turn in unison, thelower ends of the spindles 22 of both lamp brackets are provided withforwardly projecting bracket arms 27, the front ends of which coirnected pivotally with opposite ends of an upper shifting bar 28 arrangedhorizontally and transversely above the main frame.

If it is desired to hold the lamp brackets against turning, this may beaccomplished by a locking device which in its preferred construction, asshown in Figs. 1, 5 and 6, comprises a locking pin 29 which ispreferably externally screw threaded and adapted to pass throughcorresponding openings 3 31, in the bracket bearings and the spindle, ahand wheel 32 arranged in one end of this locking pin and a pad lock 33detachabiy connected with the opposite end of this Such a locking deviceis as sociated with the bearing and spindle of only one of the lampbrackets, inasmuch the locking of one lamp against turning will serveto. lock both of them 0 ing to the means which operatively connect bothof these lamp brackets.

Means are provided for causing the lamp brackets to turn in unison withthe steering mechanism'of the automobile which means in their preferredform are so' organized that the steering mechanism and the lamp shifting.mechanism may be either connected or disconnected so that the lamps maybe'autoniatically turned in a horizontal way during the night time whenthe lam is are li 'hted but )erm'its the lam )S to remain at rest duringthe day time when the same are extinguished.

This coupling mechanism between the steering mechanism and the lampshifting mechanism in its preferred form is constructed as follows:

Projecting forwardly from the hubs 14 of the knuckles are two knucklesarms the front ends of which are pivotally connected with each other bymeans of a horizontal transverse lower shifting bar 35. Projectingupwardly from the central part of this lower shifting bar 35 is astandard 36 and above this standard the upper shiftgage with the opening37 of the upper shifting rod 28 and thusproduce an operative connectionbetween the lower shifting bar and the upper shifting bar 28 so that theI movement of the steering mechanism of the car is transmitted to thelamp brackets and cause the lamps or head lights 20 to be turnedhorizontally in unison with the steering wheels of the car. By thismeans the beams of light which are directed for-- wardly from the lampsare shifted either toward one side or the other of the road whenever theautomobile is steered for changing the course from a straight line, andthus securing an illumination of the roadway ahead of the car inaccordance with the path which the car intends to take. The coupling rodis held in its elevated position in engagement with lamp shifting bar 28by neans which are so constructed that they also serve as a lock whichmeans .in their preferred form consists of a locking pm 41 passingthrough correspondmg openings 42, 43 in the lower coupling rod sec 7tion 38 and the adjacent part of the standard 36 and a lug 44 arrangedat one end of this pin and a pad lock 45 detachably con-- nected withthe other end of this pin, as

best shown in Fig. 2. This pin is preferably threaded externally and theopenings 42 and 43 in the rod section 38, and standard upper part of the36 are correspondingly threaded for the purpose of obtaininga morereliable connection between these parts. Upon lowering the coupling rodsections 38 and 30' upon the standard 36 so as to disengage the,

upper rod section 39 from the opening 37 into the upper shifting rod,then the lamp shifting mechanism will not be effected by the operationof the steering mechanism. When the parts are thus shifted the lockingpin 41 may be passed through openings 46 in the upper part of the lowerrod section 38 and also throughthe opening 43 in the standard 36 for thepurpose of holding the couplingrod in its inoperative position. Whilethe upper coupling rod section 39is not engaged with the opening 37 inthe tically relatively to, each other during the variation of theposition of the front axle and springs relatively to the main frame,inasmuch as the coupling rod section 39 is upper shifting rod 28 thelatter and the f 'lowcr shifting bar are free to move verfree to slidein the bar 28 and still compel the bar-'28 and bar 35 to movehorizontally together. A11 suitable means may be provided for holdingthe lower and upper coupling rod sections 38 and 39 rigidly relativelyto each other, while the same are employed for coupling the bars and 28.The means which are shown in the drawings for accomplishing this purposeare satisfactory and consist of a screw nut 47 adapted to engage with ascrew thread formed externally on the opposing end portions of thelower'and upper coupling rod sections 38 and 39 adjacent to the pivotpin 40. Upon turning this screw nut 47 upwardly so that the same iswholly mounted on the upper section 39 on the coupling rod, the sameafter erably held against rattling by utilizing the padlock which may bepassed through corresponding lugs 48, 49 formed on adjacent parts of therod sections 38 and 39, as shown in Fig. 3. When the upper 1 couplingrod section 39 is raised into vertical alignment with the lower rodsection 38, the screw nut 47 may be screwed downwardly, so as to engagethe threaded upper part of the lower rod section 38 and also thethreaded lower part of the upper rod section 39 which is arranged belowthe pivot pin 40, as shown by full lines in Fig. 2 and by dotted linesin Fig. 3, in which position of this screw nut the same holds the lowerand upper coupling rod sections perfectly rigid relatively to each otherand ensures transmission of the movement of the lower shifting bar 35 tothe upper bar 28 so that the lamps or head lights are turnedhorizontally in unison with the steering mechanism.

If it is desired to utilize this lamp operatand 28, thereby preventingthe steering mechanism of the automobile from being actuated and thuspreventing operation of the automobile in a normal manner which willserve as a deterent against stealing the same.

This invention therefore permits of turning the lamps at night in unisonwith the steering mechanism for ensuring greater safetyin-traific duringthe night time while permitting disconnection of theseparts during theday time when the lamps are not required, also serving as a deterentagainst stealing the car. Themeans whereby these ends are accomplishedare comparatively simple in construction, low 1n cost and capable ofbeing applied to the standard types of autombiles now in general use.

I claim as my'invention:

1. A lamp operating mechanism for automobiles comprising a main frame,lamp brackets pivoted on the main frame, steering knuckles pivoted onthe main frame, and means for connecting and disconnecting said steeringknuckles and lamp brackets comprising bracket arms arranged on saidbrackets, knuckle arms arranged on said knuckles, an

upper bar connecting said bracket arms and provided with an opening alower bar connecting said knuckle arms, a standard mounted on said lowerbar, a coupling rod composed of upper and lower pivotally connectingsections, said upper section being adapted to engage with said openingand said lower section being slidable vertically on said standard, and ascrew nut arranged on said coupling rod and adapted to move lengthwisethereof for locking the same against folding or permitting the same tofold.

2. A lamp operating mechanism for auto brackets, knuckle arms arrangedon said knuckles, an upper bar connecting said bracket arms and providedwith an opening a lower bar connecting said knuckle arms, a standardmounted on said lower bar, a coupling rod composed of upper and lowerpivotally connected sections, said upper section being adapted to engagewith said opening and said lower section being slidable vertically onsaid standard, a screw nut arranged on said coupling rod and adapted tomove lengthwise thereof for locking the same against folding orpermitting the same to fold, and means for securing said coupling bar onsaid standard either in a position in which this rod engages with saidopening or in a position in which the same is disengaged therefrom.

3. A lamp operating mechanism for auto mobiles comprising a frameprovided with a bearing, a lamp bracket provided with a spindlejournaled in said bearing, a steering mechanism operatively connectedwith said spindle, means for positively holding said spindle againstturning consisting of a locking pin passing through the hearing andspindle, and a lock for preventing detachment of said locking pin fromsaid bearing and spindle.

4. A lamp operating mechanism for automobiles comprising amain frame,lamp brackets pivoted on said frame, a steering mechanism havingknuckles pivoted on said amas fi'ame, locking means for preventing saidlamp brackets from turning, means for coupling said steering mechanismand lamp 1n brackets, and locking means for holding said coupling meansin an operative position.

v AMIGO MICHAEL PURCHIO.

